TRANMERE ROVERS' Simon Haworth last night became the latest player to pull out of Wales' troubled trip to face the USA in California - after it was discovered he was away on honeymoon.

The striker was initially only in Mark Hughes' stand-by group for the match in San Jose on May 26, but became a late addition to the travelling party at the weekend after 17 of the original 39-strong squad had pulled out.

However, with little more than 24 hours to go before Wales are set to depart from Heathrow, Tranmere contacted the Football Association of Wales to tell them the 26-year-old striker was still away on holiday following his wedding.

It meant a frantic search for an extra player to be drafted in - and even that caused more problems.

The initial request was to take Swansea's young striker James Thomas, but it soon emerged he was also on holiday in Spain until Thursday.

FAW officials then turned to Millwall's teenage defender Matthew Rees, who was tracked down at home with his family in Swansea.

The 20-year-old was rushed to the team hotel in West London to bring Hughes' party back up to 20.

And it brought the number of uncapped players travelling to five, with three of Rees' Under-21 colleagues - Mansfield's Rhys Day, Crewe's David Vaughan and Coventry's David Pipe - already brought in, along with Bristol City's top scorer Christian Roberts.

It all means Wales will field a very inexperienced side when they face the number-10 FIFA-ranked nation for the match at the Spartan Stadium on Monday (3am BST).